More people reported sick with the dengue virus Monday with 56 fresh cases being admitted to city hospitals, taking the total number to 941, and the Delhi government called an urgent meeting to review the situation.
Of the 56 new cases, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) reported 41, taking the total number of patients there to 173.Of the 941 infected with the mosquito-borne virus, around 579 are residents of Delhi and the rest from outside. Twenty-two people have died so far in the capital.
The Delhi government Monday called an urgent meeting along with senior members of the health ministry, doctors and civic officials to discuss the alarming health situation.
"The government has drawn up certain contingency plans to tackle the disease and the review meeting would take stock of the efforts made," said D.S. Negi, Delhi's health secretary.
"We appeal to the people to take part in the cleanliness drive started by the government. There are certain areas in the capital where the sanitary conditions are very bad. Even after repeated efforts by the civic authorities, there has not been much change," said Negi.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited AIIMS Sunday to meet dengue patients as well as his two grandsons Rohan (11) and Madhav (17) and a son-in-law Vijay Tankha, who were admitted to the hospital with suspected dengue. Rohan was discharged later Sunday.
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A 23-year-old man died at AIIMS Saturday evening, taking the death toll in Delhi to 22. The victim, Naveen Chand of Delhi, was admitted to AIIMS two days ago.
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Besides Delhi, among states where dengue has been reported are Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
Dengue, caused by the bite of the female aedes aegypti mosquito that breeds in stagnant water, is marked by high fever, skin rashes and joint pain. Sometimes, a sharp drop in blood platelet counts due to the disease can prove fatal.
Source-IANS
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